Marathon To-Do List: #1 Kick that Self-Doubt to the Curb!

It's normal and it's inevitable—marathon anxiety. You've trained for months and now "the day" is almost at hand. Did I train hard enough? Did I have enough speedwork in my plan? Were my tempo runs long and fast enough? Should I have run one more 20? All of these questions and more are probably running through your mind. That's normal, especially if it's your first marathon.

The best advice I can give you is to take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and trust in your training. You've put in the miles and you've stuck to your plan. You're ready physically. All you have to do now is believe in all the hard work you've done and get your mind as strong as your body. Self-doubt is a strong bugger. Kick it to the curb. Don't even let it on the front porch.

There are some things you can't control and there's no need to worry about, such as the weather. Mother Nature is very fickle and she can throw a curve ball at any moment. So, make sure you're prepared for any type of weather. Running a September marathon in the South? Pack a long-sleeve running shirt, just in case. Running a December marathon in the Northeast? Throw a short-sleeve shirt in your suitcase, just in case. Running a marathon in Phoenix? Pack a rain poncho, just in case. Doing these little things can help alleviate worries about the things you can't control.

I'm currently training for my 11th marathon and I've learned a few tricks in the past 11 years on the "dos" and "don'ts" of preparing for a marathon. Below are 12 tips you might want to consider as you prepare for your race day. (#10 and #11 were suggested by Thomas an avid RunnerDude's Blog reader. Thanks Thomas!)

Marathon To-Do List
1. Find out what sports drink and/or sports gel will be provided along the course. (Either train using what will be provided or decide to carry your own or have family members/friends provide it for you along the course. Never train using one brand then switch to another on race day.)
2. Become familiar with the race course. (No need to memorize every street name and turn, but identifying major hills and other course challenges can be helpful.)

3. Keep tabs on the weather. (Periodically check weather.com to see what the forecast is for race day; best to be prepared with cold/heat/rain gear than not.)
4. Give yourself plenty of travel time, especially if the race is out of town. (If going to a new city, it's best to arrive two days before the race. This gives you time to acclimate to your surroundings and a new bed.)
5. Pack your race-day clothes and running shoes in your carry-on bag if you're flying. (If your luggage gets lost you'll be able to run as planned.)

6. Pick up your race packet early. (No need to wait until the last minute to pick up your packet. You never know what may come up to delay pickup.)
7. Have a plan for where to meet your family/friends after the race. (No need speeding longer than it took to run the marathon looking for your family.)
8. Layout your racing clothes, shoes, and gear the night before the race. (Go ahead and pin your race bib to the front of your shirt too.)
9. Don't overdress for the race (Rule of thumb is to dress like it's 15 degrees warmer than it really is. Your body will warm up at least by that much while running.)

10. Take along some old sweats to the start. (Some races have you at the start really early and it can get chilly in the wee hours of the morning especially at a fall or winter marathon. The sweats will keep you warm while you wait and then you can toss them at the start. Many races donate the discarded clothing to local homeless shelters.)

11. Don't start out too fast! (It's very easy to get caught up in the hoopla of the start and before you know it you're running a minute faster pace than you're supposed to! Hold fast to the pace at which you've trained. You can turn in on later in the race, if you've got extra gas in your tank.)

12. Trust in your training and enjoy yourself!